Chapter 238: Crossing the Border in Secret

Tsim Sha Tsui East, Mody Road.

Inside a Mitsubishi sedan, a middle-aged man sat in the passenger seat, while a young man was driving.

Both men had cameras hanging around their necks and were wearing jeans; one look was enough to tell they were two reporters.

"Le Ge, we might as well go shoot some gossip news." The young man smoked a cigarette, sounding somewhat impatient.

"What? Can't sit still already? Let me tell you, in our line of work, besides luck, the most important thing is patience."

The middle-aged man, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, lectured the young man while glancing outside from time to time, a crumpled Seven Stars cigarette held in his hand:

"Your Le Ge here came up the same way back in the day. I remember when I squatted outside Cheng Long's villa for three days and three nights just to snap a photo of Cheng Long and Lin..."

What the middle-aged man was talking about was the scandal between Cheng Long and Lin Fengjiao; this was the peak of his professional career, and aside from that, there had been no other explosive news.

The young man had already heard it nearly a thousand times; his ears were practically calloused.

He couldn't help but roll his eyes and hurriedly interrupted, "Le Ge, what are we here for? Give me the bottom line."

"Do you really want to know?"

Le Ge took a deep drag of his cigarette and lowered his voice, "Ever heard of the Landlord Association?"

The young man looked blank, and Le Ge chuckled, "Don't know, do you?"

"The Landlord Association is a mysterious organization in Hong Kong. Sima Xiang, Zhan Peizhong, Huang Shitong, and Chen Zhan—these top-tier Chinese gold-medal brokers are all members of the Landlord Association."

"They are the movers and shakers of the Hong Kong financial world. I have a friend who runs errands at Sima Xiang's company; I heard they helped Chinese merchants like Huo Yingnan, He Xin, and Lin Mingze make billions of Hong Kong dollars."

The young man seemed to recall something and quickly asked, "Is what we're waiting for here today related to the Landlord Association?"

"Right. Haste makes waste. Today, members of the Landlord Association are meeting here with the Liang family of Hang Seng Bank."

"They're here, they're here."

Suddenly, the young man shouted excitedly, his gaze fixed outside the car.

A Volvo 780 coupe pulled up to the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel; Sima Xiang and Luo Minsheng stepped out of the car and tossed their keys to the valet at the door.

Immediately after, a Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up to the entrance. Liang Zhonghao buttoned his suit jacket and strode into the hotel.

The three of them sat at a window-side table, chatting and laughing.

The two reporters immediately pressed their shutters. Landlord Association members meeting with Liang Zhonghao—did this mean that the stocks for Hang Seng Bank or the Shanghai Hotels Group were about to skyrocket?

If they sold the relevant information to some big market makers, it would be worth at least six figures.

The two pressed their shutters continuously, taking as many photos as possible.

But soon, the two were stunned.

"Damn, is the Governor out for a parade?"

"So many luxury cars?"

They saw two top-trim Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars flanking a six-meter-long, imposing stretched Mercedes-Benz, which slowly pulled up to the Shangri-La Hotel.

A Mercedes-Benz Pullman armored car.

A head-of-state-level vehicle.

The next moment, as the motorcade stopped by the roadside, a group of tall bodyguards in suits and leather shoes, each wearing black sunglasses, with bulging muscles and earpieces, swarmed around a young man as he stepped out of the car.

"Sir Chen, Mr. Sima Xiang and Mr. Liang are already waiting for you inside."

The security guards at the door and the hotel lobby manager were all very familiar with Chen Jiajun.

The owner behind the scenes of the Shangri-La Hotel was the Huo Henian Family, who were renowned in Southeast Asia.

Who exactly was the Huoshi Family of Southeast Asia?

They were the number one Chinese family in Malaysia. The head of the family, Huo Henian, was the world's "Sugar King," controlling 1.5 million tons of sugar annually, accounting for about 20% of the international sugar market.

More importantly, Huo Henian was also a patriotic businessman.

Therefore, as soon as the Shangri-La opened, Chen Jiajun had booked a long-term presidential suite.

"Fine, the usual. Bring me a cup of West Lake Longjing," Chen Jiajun nodded.

"Sir Chen."

"Mr. Liang."

Walking to the window-side table, Chen Jiajun and Liang Zhonghao shook hands.

After sitting down and lighting a cigar, Chen Jiajun smiled at Liang Zhonghao and said, "Mr. Liang, I took the liberty of having Sima Xiang and Luo Minsheng invite you out because there is a collaboration I would like to discuss with you."

"Sir Chen, please feel free to speak plainly."

Liang Zhonghao's gaze sharpened; he leaned forward slightly and spoke with a solemn expression.

Chen Jiajun smiled faintly and said, "As far as I know, the Liang family's current commercial focus is on the real estate industry."

"That is correct," Liang Zhonghao nodded candidly.

Chen Jiajun smiled and said, "My proposal involves a real estate project. As far as I know, the majority of the assets of the Hong Kong Shanghai Hotels Group are in the real estate sector, and this area is managed by you."

Hearing this, Liang Zhonghao frowned slightly, a bad premonition forming in his heart.

But soon, Chen Jiajun dispelled his doubts. Chen Jiajun said, "Our Guojun Group also has its own real estate company with enough land for development; you can rest assured about that."

"As for me, I currently want to consolidate the market in the hotel sector, so I would like to cooperate with you, Mr. Liang, regarding the Shanghai Hotels Group stock."

Hearing that Sir Chen wanted to consolidate the hotel industry, Liang Zhonghao was somewhat surprised. Although he was curious, he did not ask further.

But what exactly was the nature of the cooperation Sir Chen was talking about?

Liang Zhonghao puffed on his cigar, pondered for a moment, and asked slowly, "Sir Chen, I'm all ears."

Chen Jiajun nodded and said, "Here is what I am thinking."

"Mr. Liang, you currently hold 31% of the shares in the Shanghai Hotels Group, but your focus is on the real estate industry. Why not sell those shares to me?"

"I want to acquire the Shanghai Hotels Group and clear the Kadoorie Family out of the board of directors. If the operation is successful, I will give Mr. Liang several prime plots of land, and we will both achieve a win-win situation."

"If the operation is not successful, I will also sell Mr. Liang several plots of land at a low price as compensation."

"Mr. Liang, what do you think?"

Chen Jiajun's words were very straightforward, and Liang Zhonghao understood them immediately.

To put it bluntly, it was to have him stab the Kadoorie Family in the back.

Although it was easy to incur the Kadoorie Family's resentment, it gained him Sir Chen's friendship, and he could also obtain several plots of land.

Although the Liang family lost the Shanghai Hotels Group, the Shanghai Hotels Group's stock performance had been very stable over these years, and Liang Zhonghao had not been interested in it to begin with.

As for offending the Kadoorie Family?

Liang Zhonghao was, on the contrary, the least concerned about that.

Liang Zhonghao immediately made the decision: "Sir Chen, you and I are both Chinese; I should naturally stand on the same front as you. Even if it is somewhat disadvantageous to our family, I am certainly willing to contribute. Let's do this: at today's market price, the 31% stake in the Shanghai Hotels Group belongs to you, Sir Chen."

These polite words were certainly pleasant to hear.

Chen Jiajun smiled, not taking them to heart, and raised his teacup, saying: "Thank you for your generous assistance, Mr. Liang. I will use tea to replace wine and offer you a toast."

Liang Zhonghao also hurriedly picked up his teacup and laughed loudly: "Sir Chen, this is our first collaboration; I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

"That goes without saying, I toast you." Chen Jiajun nodded with a smile.

"Please."

After speaking, the few of them lightly clinked their cups and then drank them in one gulp.

The tone had already been set; there was no need for them to handle the specific details at their level.

After chatting with Liang Zhonghao for another quarter of an hour, Chen Jiajun and his group took their leave.

Parting ways with Chen Jiajun, Sima Xiang and Luo Minsheng got into a Volvo coupe, fastened their seatbelts, and immediately headed to the Securities and Futures Commission to settle the 31% stake in the Shanghai Hotels Group they had just acquired before the end of the workday.

With the influence of the Landlord Association, they could completely take the opportunity to buy out the equity of several other small shareholders to reach the 35% required to trigger a full takeover bid.

However, they knew deep down that Sir Chen's target was CLP.

As for the Shanghai Hotels Group, it was merely a trap.

The Shanghai Hotels Group had a total share capital of 97 million, with a current stock price of 42.5 dollars.

The 31% of shares Chen Jiajun purchased from Liang Zhonghao cost him a total of 1.3175 billion, with the group's total market value at 4.25 billion. The Kadoorie Family held 10.33 million shares, a shareholding ratio of 10.33%.

The Shanghai Hotels Group was already considered a behemoth in Hong Kong.

However, Big Brother Jun stated that anything with a market value under ten billion was merely something on the plate.

The next day.

A Councilor of the Longteng Fund, General Manager of the Asian Investment Bank, and former Hutchison Whampoa taipan—Wei Li—held a press conference in the large conference room of the Shangri-La Hotel, which could accommodate 700 people.

This press conference attracted countless Hong Kong reporters. Facing the reporters in the audience, Wei Li aimed at the microphone and said:

"Reporters, I represent the Longteng Fund in announcing that the Longteng Fund currently holds 31 million shares of the Hong Kong Shanghai Hotels Group, becoming the largest shareholder. We have already sent an application to the Shanghai Hotels Group to join the Board of Directors. Furthermore, we will drive Lawrence Kadoorie out of the Kadoorie Group."

Wei Li's voice was exceptionally overbearing.

Once these words were spoken, the reporters in the audience were in an uproar, frantically pressing the shutters of their cameras.

After a year of silence, no one expected that the former God of Stock Sniping—Sir Chen—after acquiring the China Motor Bus and Bar Group last year, would set his sights on the Shanghai Hotels Group after a year of lying low.

Wei Li continued: "Although the Kadoorie Family are the founders of the Shanghai Hotels Group, the Kadoorie Family's style of conduct no longer fits this era. After we take control of the Shanghai Hotels Group, we will give the Shanghai Hotels Group a brand-new look."

"As for the next step, we will decide based on the situation whether to launch a full takeover battle."

"Thank you all for coming; my statement is concluded."

Earth-shattering.

It would not be an exaggeration to describe this news as earth-shattering.

No one expected that since the Kowloon Wharf stock battle, another Hong Kong Chinese tycoon would launch an assault on the Gweilos.

Once the battle lines were drawn, the Shanghai Hotels Group's stock, after experiencing a brief period of price volatility, rose directly to 50 dollars.

Stock investors waved their banknotes one after another, heading to the exchange to purchase shares of the Shanghai Hotels Group.

2 Snow Factory Street, Central, Hong Kong Island—St. George Building.

This building was a Grade A commercial building with over twenty floors constructed by the Kadoorie Family in 1968, and it was the Kadoorie Family's landmark building on Hong Kong Island.

At this moment inside the Kadoorie Group, everyone was rushing about. Michael Kadoorie, a famous Hong Kong Young Master, strode into the Chairman's office: "Dad. It's bad, something terrible has happened."

"I have already received news that Liang Zhonghao has betrayed us."

Lawrence Kadoorie, the head of the Kadoorie Family, had an angry look on his face and his lips were trembling.

"Dad, what should we do next? Sir Chen is trying to drive us to extinction."

Michael Kadoorie was completely panicked and at a loss.

Why are many listed company executives afraid of being kicked out of their companies?

The reason is simple.

As long as they are in the company, they can enjoy generous perks, with salaries in the millions or tens of millions; as long as the Board of Directors agrees, isn't it sweet to take this money?

Lawrence Kadoorie smoked his Cigar and said in a deep voice: "You go and contact those small shareholders for me immediately. The most important thing for us right now is to gain the support of the small shareholders. As long as the shareholders support us to be the Chairman of the Board, we can still make a comeback."

"Dad, I understand."

Michael Kadoorie received the order and left.

The Kadoorie Family had accompanied the Shanghai Hotels Group through more than half a century of storms; it was not difficult for Lawrence Kadoorie to gain the support of the shareholders.

But this was only a delaying tactic.

The God of Sniping was indeed worthy of his reputation; he was fast, ruthless, and accurate.

He had directly grasped his vital point.

Now, pursuing Liang Zhonghao's responsibility was already of no use.

The important thing was how to make up for the shortcomings.

However, at the thought of Sir Chen, the Guojun Group, and the Longteng Fund—this behemoth—a sense of powerlessness welled up in Lawrence Kadoorie.

Thinking of this, Lawrence Kadoorie picked up the telephone and notified his Secretary: "Call all the group's executives for a meeting."

"Understood, Boss."

Half an hour later, Lawrence Kadoorie had roughly assessed his own capital levels; he rubbed his brow and asked, "If we are to maintain our stock at a safe level, how much capital is required? What is the budget?"

The head of the securities department at Kadoorie Group replied, "Viscount Kadoorie, there is never a safe level in the stock market. Given Sir Chen's style of operation, he could launch a Hostile Takeover at any time. Furthermore, his current shareholding is at 31%. I have learned from the Securities and Futures Commission that there are no legal loopholes for us to exploit; we can only resist this battle head-on..."

Having said this, the person in charge did not continue.

The answer was already self-evident.

It was an urgent crisis.

Lawrence Kadoorie exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "You are quite right. Then, according to your projections, how much capital must we mobilize to buy back the shares in Sir Chen's hands?"

"The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it is for us. Within one week, according to my budget model, we must mobilize 2 billion. Within two weeks, it will reach 2.5 billion..."

The person in charge replied.

Lawrence Kadoorie shook his head and made a decision he would regret for the rest of his life, saying, "Sell off a portion of CLP Group stock. I must raise the funds to launch a counter-takeover battle; settle Sir Chen within one week."

"Viscount Kadoorie, how many shares shall we sell? Or rather, how much capital is needed?" the person in charge asked.

Lawrence Kadoorie said, "One billion. I will find a way for the rest."

After speaking, he had already walked out of the office, and at the same time, he dialed a number on the mobile phone in his hand: "Hello, is this Mr. He?"

"It is I, Kadoorie."

"I would like to invite Sir Chen to a meal; Mr. He, could you act as an intermediary?"

Lawrence, the head of the Kadoorie Family, certainly did not expect that Chen Jiajun was using a diversionary tactic, and that his true objective was the CLP Group.

Of course, the Kadoorie Family's securities department could not sell off one billion worth of stock on the primary market, because such a sell-off would cause the CLP Group's share price to plummet.

At the same time, the Landlord Association was already searching the world over to negotiate with the minority shareholders of the CLP Group.

Hong Kong Island, Happy Valley, inside a villa.

Huang Shitong shook hands with a portly, bald, middle-aged man and said with a smile, "Mr. Wang, thank you."

The bald, middle-aged man held himself even lower than Huang Shitong and hurriedly laughed, "Brother Tong, you are too kind. My company has been able to flourish thanks to your care, and being able to help you with a small favor today is my honor."

Huang Shitong readily agreed, "Rest assured, Mr. Wang, we have been working together for quite a long time. You also know that I have always been generous in helping friends. If you have any business in finance in the future, you can come to me at any time."

The bald middle-aged man thanked him, "Then I thank you, Brother Tong."

Huang Shitong smiled, "I will be leaving today; I'll invite you to dinner next time."

"Brother Tong, let me see you out."

Under the send-off of the portly, bald, middle-aged man, Huang Shitong entered his large Bentley, weighed the thick document bag in his hand, and revealed a satisfied smile.

(End of this chapter)